---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was really my grandmother who was the…"
description: "\"It was really my grandmother who was the biggest influence because she'd talk back to the celebrities and politicians on TV. She was a combination of J..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/randy-rainbow-5471_grandmother_it-was-really-my-grandmother-who-was-the_2114127.jpg"
---

#  It was really my grandmother who was the biggest influence…

![“It was really my grandmother who was the biggest influence because she'd talk back to the celebrities and politicians on TV. She was a combination of Joan Rivers, Elaine Stritch, Betty White, and Bea Arthur rolled into one.” quote by Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/randy-rainbow-5471_grandmother_it-was-really-my-grandmother-who-was-the_2114127.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/randy-rainbow-5471_grandmother_it-was-really-my-grandmother-who-was-the_2114127.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/randy-rainbow-5471_grandmother_it-was-really-my-grandmother-who-was-the_2114127.jpg)

> “It was really my grandmother who was the biggest influence because she'd talk back to the celebrities and politicians on TV. She was a combination of Joan Rivers, Elaine Stritch, Betty White, and Bea Arthur rolled into one.”

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Grandmother's bold humor and wit shaped her worldview, mixing sharp satire with warmth.

**In simple terms:** Grandmother taught bold humor and wit.

Key Takeaway

Embrace candid humor and confidence.

Themes

humor confidence influence

Mood

playful defiant nostalgic

Type

inspirational humorous

When to use this quote

- family gatherings
- public speaking
- media commentary

Key Concepts

satire media critique role models

Questions to Reflect On

- How does humor affect authority?
- When is boldness appropriate?

A Different Perspective

May alienate those who prefer subtlety.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Biggest influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-influence/) [Grandmother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandmother/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/)

## Related quotes

> [And I want to say that my grandmother was one of the biggest inspirations in my life. She taught me how to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reese-witherspoon/and-i-want-to-say-that-my-grandmother-was-one-of-the-biggest/)

[Reese Witherspoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reese-witherspoon/)

> [“It really was my grandmother’s,” he said, deadpan. “No kidding?” she responded, not caring if it belonged to Hitler, just wanting to get off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-jenkins/it-really-was-my-grandmother-s-he-said-deadpan-no-kidding-she/)

Suzanne Jenkins

> [To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall/to-listen-well-is-as-powerful-a-means-of-communication-and-influence/)

[John Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall/)

> [I think my grandmother was one of my biggest influences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-mayfield/i-think-my-grandmother-was-one-of-my-biggest-influences/)

[Curtis Mayfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-mayfield/)

> [To listen well, is as powerful a means of influence as to talk well, and is as essential to all true conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverbs/to-listen-well-is-as-powerful-a-means-of-influence-as-to-talk-well/)

Chinese Proverbs

> [Wherever you are, that’s your stage, your circle of influence. That’s your talk show, that’s where your power lies. ... You have the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/wherever-you-are-that-s-your-stage-your-circle-of-influence-that-s/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [My grandmother has always been my biggest fan, and she was my whole life. The only thing that kept me living after her death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-bowie/my-grandmother-has-always-been-my-biggest-fan-and-she-was-my-whole/)

[Tori Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-bowie/)

> [I mean, I'm from the Joan Rivers, Don Rickles kind of old-school comedy in that nothing is off the table, certainly not in politics.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-mean-i-m-from-the-joan-rivers-don-rickles-kind-of-old-school-comedy/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [My mother and my grandmother are pioneers of Mexican cuisine in this country, so I grew up in the kitchen. My mom, Zarela Martinez,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sanchez/my-mother-and-my-grandmother-are-pioneers-of-mexican-cuisine-in-this/)

[Aaron Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sanchez/)

> [I don't know the secret of Mrs. Brown, but what I do know is that there are things that Mrs. Brown says and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-o-carroll/i-don-t-know-the-secret-of-mrs-brown-but-what-i-do-know-is-that-there/)

[Brendan O'Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-o-carroll/)

> [So many people: Lucille Ball is the earliest incarnation of a woman I thought was funny, Joan Rivers, Roseanne, Carol Burnett, Gilda Radnor, down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-peretti/so-many-people-lucille-ball-is-the-earliest-incarnation-of-a-woman-i/)

[Chelsea Peretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-peretti/)

> [I'm not trying to be the next Joan Rivers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-mizrahi/i-m-not-trying-to-be-the-next-joan-rivers/)

[Isaac Mizrahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-mizrahi/)

> [I've never seen her live, but I remember watching a Joan Rivers standup special for the first time and literally thinking she was magic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-sherman/i-ve-never-seen-her-live-but-i-remember-watching-a-joan-rivers/)

[Sarah Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-sherman/)

> [Oddly enough, Dame Edna is not interested in show business. Her friends in Los Angeles are mostly in the world of petroleum. She used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/oddly-enough-dame-edna-is-not-interested-in-show-business-her-friends/)

[Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/)

> [You see a Donald Trump on TV, just like you'd see Joan Rivers on TV when she was living, and you see a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-bondi/you-see-a-donald-trump-on-tv-just-like-you-d-see-joan-rivers-on-tv/)

[Pam Bondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-bondi/)

## More by Randy Rainbow

> [I don't use an alarm, though sometimes Alexa wakes me, especially if I have to get up at a certain time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-don-t-use-an-alarm-though-sometimes-alexa-wakes-me-especially-if-i/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [My parents always had a Christmas tree in the house and I was put in ballet at a very young age. So every year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/my-parents-always-had-a-christmas-tree-in-the-house-and-i-was-put-in/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [Going after people for their politics is not necessarily what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/going-after-people-for-their-politics-is-not-necessarily-what-i-do/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [Comedy illuminates. And it unifies people, it's not as polarizing as shows with specific political agendas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/comedy-illuminates-and-it-unifies-people-it-s-not-as-polarizing-as/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [I guess to long story short it, I was really just working day jobs when I moved to New York and trying to pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-guess-to-long-story-short-it-i-was-really-just-working-day-jobs/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [Well, the first restaurant I worked in was Hooters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/well-the-first-restaurant-i-worked-in-was-hooters/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [I did have a thing for mazes. When I was a kid, I remember drawing little mazes constantly and puzzles. I loved that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-did-have-a-thing-for-mazes-when-i-was-a-kid-i-remember-drawing/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [I mean, musical theater really informed so much of my life. It just so perfectly brings order to chaos, which is why we love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-mean-musical-theater-really-informed-so-much-of-my-life-it-just-so/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [I love to be silly as often as possible. I try to maintain a level of that in all that I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-love-to-be-silly-as-often-as-possible-i-try-to-maintain-a-level-of/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [I'm a human person, so I do have some sort of compassion for even the people I'm mocking. But at the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-m-a-human-person-so-i-do-have-some-sort-of-compassion-for-even-the/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [Music and comedy, musical comedy, specifically, really helped me through my childhood. I felt out of place, I felt lots of adversity, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/music-and-comedy-musical-comedy-specifically-really-helped-me-through/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [There's not one Yiddish word that is not perfectly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/there-s-not-one-yiddish-word-that-is-not-perfectly-funny/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [I'm a very casual person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-m-a-very-casual-person/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [I love Mayor Pete. I've always liked Joe Biden. I like Elizabeth Warren.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-love-mayor-pete-i-ve-always-liked-joe-biden-i-like-elizabeth-warren/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

> [I had a quick family. Very witty. I learned my rhythm from that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-had-a-quick-family-very-witty-i-learned-my-rhythm-from-that/)

[Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

[Explore all 100 Randy Rainbow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/)

## More Biggest influence quotes

> [I think I'm my biggest influence in wanting to be a fighter. It's something I envisioned for myself a long time ago, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-pena/i-think-i-m-my-biggest-influence-in-wanting-to-be-a-fighter-it-s/)

[Julianna Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-pena/)

> [My father is my idol, and I have grown up watching his films. He is my biggest influence and inspiration. I have learnt a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahesh-babu/my-father-is-my-idol-and-i-have-grown-up-watching-his-films-he-is-my/)

[Mahesh Babu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahesh-babu/)

> [My mother and my grandmother are pioneers of Mexican cuisine in this country, so I grew up in the kitchen. My mom, Zarela Martinez,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sanchez/my-mother-and-my-grandmother-are-pioneers-of-mexican-cuisine-in-this/)

[Aaron Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sanchez/)

> [I'd say that Ray Charles is definitely the biggest influence on my singing. Also Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-d-say-that-ray-charles-is-definitely-the-biggest-influence-on-my/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [I was a very young mod. The older mods at school used to like me because I brought in a copy of Mad magazine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-dammers/i-was-a-very-young-mod-the-older-mods-at-school-used-to-like-me/)

Jerry Dammers

> [Television and comic books are, and continue to be, probably the biggest influence in my life. It's the biggest influence on everybody's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/television-and-comic-books-are-and-continue-to-be-probably-the/)

[Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/)

> [Personally speaking, I think the Beatles were our biggest influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-caffey/personally-speaking-i-think-the-beatles-were-our-biggest-influence/)

[Charlotte Caffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-caffey/)

> [Michael Landon was the biggest influence. As a child, I watched him write, direct, star, and produce a TV show every week. He showed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-labyorteaux/michael-landon-was-the-biggest-influence-as-a-child-i-watched-him/)

Patrick Labyorteaux

> [I always say Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is my biggest influence. But for painters, I like many, many painters, but I love Francis Bacon the most,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/i-always-say-philadelphia-pennsylvania-is-my-biggest-influence-but/)

[David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/)

> [My biggest influence is Chris Rock. His physicality is like a caged tiger - pacing the stage - how he walks back and forth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-blue/my-biggest-influence-is-chris-rock-his-physicality-is-like-a-caged/)

[Josh Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-blue/)

> [My dad's the one who's always been there; he's my hero, you could say. Even when he was working, he'd do anything for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-bale/my-dad-s-the-one-who-s-always-been-there-he-s-my-hero-you-could-say/)

[Gareth Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-bale/)

> [That came from my mother. She was the biggest influence on my life. I remember once refusing to get on a bus with her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-wilson/that-came-from-my-mother-she-was-the-biggest-influence-on-my-life-i/)

[Tony Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-wilson/)

> [I've always said my biggest influence is my, just, the last work I did, the last piece I made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-ve-always-said-my-biggest-influence-is-my-just-the-last-work-i-did/)

[Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/)

> ['The Nightmare Before Christmas' is my number one biggest influence artistically in every way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lee/the-nightmare-before-christmas-is-my-number-one-biggest-influence/)

[Amy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lee/)

> [I think the biggest influence on the book, as far as the humor goes, comes, at least indirectly, from the men I worked with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-think-the-biggest-influence-on-the-book-as-far-as-the-humor-goes/)

[Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/)

[Browse all 79 Biggest influence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-influence/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It was really my grandmother who was the biggest influence because she'd talk back to the celebrities and politicians on TV. She was a combination of Joan Rivers, Elaine Stritch, Betty White, and Bea Arthur rolled into one.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Randy Rainbow"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/it-was-really-my-grandmother-who-was-the-biggest-influence-because/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Biggest influence"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/it-was-really-my-grandmother-who-was-the-biggest-influence-because/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/randy-rainbow-5471_grandmother_it-was-really-my-grandmother-who-was-the_2114127.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/randy-rainbow-5471_grandmother_it-was-really-my-grandmother-who-was-the_2114127.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/randy-rainbow-5471_grandmother_it-was-really-my-grandmother-who-was-the_2114127.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It was really my grandmother who was the biggest influence because she'd talk back to the celebrities and…” — Randy Rainbow",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Randy Rainbow",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It was really my grandmother who...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/it-was-really-my-grandmother-who-was-the-biggest-influence-because/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/it-was-really-my-grandmother-who-was-the-biggest-influence-because/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
